Simple pairing to generate private keys for different protocol communications

Abstract

An integrated circuit radio transceiver and associated method comprises a multi-mode device operable to support personal area network communications as well as traditional wireless local area network communications. In one embodiment, IEEE 802.11 protocol IBSS communications are used to transport Bluetooth communication data packets. In another embodiment, a direct link comprising direct packet transfers without beaconing is performed between the multi-mode device and another multi-mode device. Thus, the multi-mode device is operable to establish traditional BSS communications with an Access Point in addition to establishing peer-to-peer communications with another multi-mode device to transport the Bluetooth communications over the 802.11 IBSS communication link or over an IEEE 802.11 direct communication link.

1 . A method for encrypting a first protocol communication link (802.11), comprising:
 engage in second communication protocol pairing exchange process to generate a first link key for second protocol communications (BT) over an encrypted link according to the second communication protocol;   engage in second communication protocol pairing exchange (BT) over an encrypted link according to the second communication protocol to generate a second link key for first protocol communications (802.11); and   create encrypted first protocol communications based on the second link key.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first protocol communications is an I.E.E.E. 802.11 protocol. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first protocol communications is wide band communication protocol. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the wide band communication protocol is WiMedia. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second link key is generated using the same algorithm as the first link key with a different input. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second protocol communications is Bluetooth. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a specified input is used to generate the first and second link keys and further wherein the specified input is four character string. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the specified input that was used for generating the first link key is different than the specified input used for generating the second link key. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the specified input is a medium access control (MAC) address. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the specified input is combination of a medium access control (MAC) address and a four character string wherein the values of the MAC address and the four character string that are used for generating the first link key are different from the values used for generating the second link key. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second link key is generated using the same algorithm as the first link key with the same input. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first key is a 128 bit key. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second key is a 256 bit key. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein engaging in second protocol pairing exchange to generate a first link key for second protocol communications includes generating an encrypted communication link using a public key of receiver wherein receiver decrypts using its own private key. 
   
   
       15 . A method for encrypting a first protocol communication link, comprising:
 engage in second communication protocol pairing exchange process over an encrypted link according to the second communication protocol to generate a link key for second protocol communications (BT) and link key for first protocol communications (802.11 or WiMedia); and   create encrypted first protocol communications (802.11 IBSS or WiMedia) based on the second link key.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first protocol is I.E.E.E. 802.16 protocol communications wherein the encryption is provided for a plurality of communication channels. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first protocol is one of an I.E.E.E. I.B.S.S. protocol communications and WiMedia and wherein the second protocol is Bluetooth. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for encrypting a first protocol communication link and for transmitting second protocol communications over the first protocol communication link, comprising:
 circuitry for engaging in second communication protocol pairing exchange process over an encrypted link according to the second communication protocol to generate a link key for second protocol communications (BT) and link key for first protocol communications (802.11 or WiMedia); and   circuitry for creating encrypted first protocol communications (802.11 IBSS or WiMedia) based on the second link key.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the first protocol is I.E.E.E. 802.16 protocol communications wherein the encryption is provided for a plurality of communication channels. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the first protocol is one of an I.E.E.E. I.B.S.S. protocol communications and WiMedia and wherein the second protocol is Bluetooth.